Mexico

Leopard + Brights

Spring is finally here! Although it may not seem like it quite yet, it’s time to pull all those cute dresses, bright flats, and fun prints out from hiding from under your bed and the dark corners of your closet. I had a taste of spring in Mexico with their delicious 70 degree weather, so I just couldn’t help packing one of my favorite bright and breezy coral blouses and my leopard Steve Madden flats to wear strolling the beautiful streets of Colonia Roma. One of my favorite destinations was a local park with a pond full with ducks, great paths in the shadows of tall trees, and lots of happy dogs of all types: Great Danes, Labs, Terriers, mutts and mixes, and the dog of our dreams-a darling white Bull Terrier.

Outfit details: coral blouse similar // Levi’s light wash jeans similar // leopard flats: Steve Madden similar // black leather crossbody: Coach similar

Photography also by Teddy Wolff

Spring is not only an opportunity to shed some light on our forgotten clothes, but to also dust off our goals, plans, eagerness, and excitement that may have been hibernating during those cold months. Through the winter I thought about my blog and what my goals should be for 2014, the biggest of which was to purchase a domain and get serious. It’s been one year since I started my blog and, even though I had no idea what I was getting into a year ago, I realize now I couldn’t have made a better decision. Having this blog has been such a positive outlet for my creative endeavors, SO, I’m happy to say that I finally “did it”: my url is now officially jackietara.com!

Thank you to Teddy Wolff, my partner in crime, for helping me create photographic content for the past year [and for teaching me how to use a camera along the way!] and to all my readers who make this process even more enjoyable. Keep reading and don’t forget to follow my adventures on Instagram @jackietara, too!

Jackietara

Pyramid of the Sun

After a delicious traditional breakfast [with the most amazing carrot juice ever!] at Don Deme, a local breakfast a short walk away from our apartment in Roma Norte, T and I set out on one of my favorite excursions during our time in Mexico: Teotihuacan, a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican city just a 1.5 hour bus away from Mexico City. Teddy and I got there late in the afternoon, around 4:30pm, which actually ended up being the most perfect time to explore the magical ruins. The crowds were beginning to dissipate and the pyramids looked beautiful in the warm light of the late afternoon sun. There are two main pyramids at Teotihuacan: the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun. The Pyramid of the Sun is the larger of the two, so T and I decided to climb that one to get the best view.

And a view is what we got. A long climb up while holding on to ropes was totally worth it for the breathtaking view at the top of the ancient city below. It was an experience unlike any other, which Teddy beautifully captured, along with several other travelers from near and far. The top of the pyramid was cameras galore, but who can resist such a fantastic photo opp?!

Outfit details: printed trousers: Zara similar // white tunic: Old Navy similar // boots: Frye similar

Photography by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

Mexico City

I’m back from a most excellent adventure with T in Mexico City and am quickly springing back into my hectic DC life. Things are much colder here than in lovely 70-degree Mexico, but I always love coming home after a great trip. I told Teddy on our drive home from the airport, “the best part about coming home after a traveling to an amazing new place is how it puts my life back in perspective.” There really is so much more out there than the minutia of the everyday, which really brings a wave of positivity into my life.

Teddy and I stayed in Roma Norte, a neighborhood just west of Mexico City’s historic center, with a couple in a renovated apartment that we found on Airbnb. If you have plans to travel to Mexico City, I highly recommend using Airbnb [here is where we stayed!]. The neighborhood eerily paralleled the charming Capitol Hill and Bloomingdale areas of the District, with its brick facades, scattered parks, cute dogs, and young families. It is very walkable, which T and I took full advantage of. The primary focus of our trip was food photography for Teddy’s portfolio [check out his blog for awesome photos taken during our adventures of Mexican cuisine and culture!] and then eating said food, so walking to work off our frequent meals was an absolute must.

We arrived in Mexico in the afternoon, which left us a few hours to acquaint ourselves with our bustling street. After a few minutes of exploring, we found a nice french cafe with outdoor seating [basically every restaurant and bar has a patio that sometimes extend into the street] and quiet charm. It was only fitting to order tequila and mezcal as our first drinks in Mexico, which we quickly learned from locals is meant to be sipped, not taken as a shot. Sipping these strong drinks is made easier and more pleasant by a spice mix frequently used on fruit [and on the rim of cocktail glasses], called chile de árbol. We both absolutely love the spice, so I need to see where I can find it in the states!

Photography also by Teddy Wolff

Jackietara

Hello 2014!

Well, 2014, here we are. A new year, a new start. There are so many things to look forward to, to plan, to do. I’m at a good, steady, happy place in my life: we aren’t moving any time soon, and since we are renting, we have no real home improvements to make. However, I’m constantly looking for ways to organize our space. Our living room wall is in need of some face-lifting with a new frame design [it’s been virtually nonexistent since we moved in a year and a half ago] and the cabinet in our bedroom needs some serious organizing for all of my art and craft supplies currently floating about freely.

2013 was a crazy busy year with work, for both me and T. I transitioned into a new role as a facility rentals coordinator and T was full speed ahead with building client relationships and creating beautiful photographs for them. And it isn’t stopping! He’s been asked to join the ASMP 8×10 panel in January to talk about some of his work and I am so excited for him!

On the leisure front, we are taking our first vacation with just the two of us at the end of January to… Mexico City! I haven’t taken a vacation in a year, so this will truly be exciting and relaxing. A whole week of exploring and eating our way through the city, and documenting it all of course. T has a new camera and micro lens to test out, so Mexican cuisine will be the perfect subject to photograph.

2014 already has a lot in store for us, but here are some other goals I hope to accomplish in the new year:

A bad habit I’d like to break: Laziness
Usually after a long day all I want to do is sit down on the couch with a glass of wine and watch TV or a movie. I think it’s OK to do this sometimes, but my time can be used so much more productively! Instead of plopping down, I’d like to do a quick 10-minute workout [like Popsugar’s 10-Minute Tush-Toning Pilates Workout], read a book, practice my violin, or paint.

A new skill I’d like to learn: How to speak Spanish
Our trip to Mexico at the end of the month has spurred me to learn a little Spanish. T has basic Spanish under his belt and is brushing up on vocab, so why not learn a word or two? I’d also like to brush up on my Italian [I was fluent as a 4-year-old and re-learned it in college], but I need to take it one step at a time.

A craft I’d like to do: Transferring photos to wood or canvas
This is a craft I was hoping to get to this year, but alas, time did not allow for it. A Beautiful Mess has a great tutorial and I’m really looking forward to trying it!

A restaurant I’d like to try: Little Serow
A local D.C. favorite, Little Serow is on the top of our list to try in 2014. As a no-reservation and set menu restaurant it can be a little difficult to get in, but I’ve heard the food is well worth the wait.

A good deed I’m going to do: Volunteer in D.C.
I haven’t decided which organization to volunteer with, but I’d really like to give back to the city I live in and NeighborGood is a good place to start looking.

A book I’d like to read: This Is Not the Story You Think It Is…
I have always grappled with the question “what book should I read?” and this time it has been conveniently answered by my sister who has this particular book available for me to borrow. She hasn’t read it and doesn’t have a recommendation to offer, but I trust in the instinct she had to pick it up.

Personality trait I’d like to bring out: Adventurousness
This year is for trying new things! I’m going to try to not let anxiety and apprehensiveness get in the way of new experiences.

Don’t forget to follow my 2014 adventures on Instagram @jackietara! What are you looking forward to in 2014? What goals are you hoping to complete? Please share, and here’s to the new year!

Jackietara

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